Ignition lock and switch combination



May 26, 1970 H. LAFRANCE 3,

IGNITION LOCK AND SWITCH COMBINATION 7 Filed June 7. 19 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l5 l4 l2 I0 I I I ll 29 29 INVENTOR @wa [Are/9M4;

BY M'f ATTORNEY May 26, 1970 H. LAFRANCE IGNITION LOCK AND SWITCH COMBINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7. 1968 INVENTOR V) ATTORNEY 1/ l/ll/ //l IIIIIIIIIIIJ ill/ll,

United States Patent 3,514,556 IGNITION LOCK AND SWITCH COMBINATION Henry Lafrance, 80 Imperial Ave., Winnipeg 8, Manitoba, Canada Filed June 7, 1968, Ser. No. 735,243 Int. Cl. H0111 27/10 US. Cl. 200-43 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The current from the battery to the starter solenoid and to the ignition is routed through the enclosure having a plurality of rotatable elements therein and continuity is only established if these elements are rotated to a preset code. The rotation may be by friction or by ratchet type plungers.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ignition lock and switch combinations for automobiles, boats, aircraft, or other apparatus operating by a key switch system.

Conventional automobiles are provided with a key for the ignition which is usually wired in conjunction with the starting solenoid so that one turn of the key not only switches on the ignition but engages the starter solenoid.

These keys are readily interchangeable and in fact, master keys exist which fit an entire range of automobiles by one manufacturer.

In order to prevent theft and unauthorized tampering of cars and the like, I have designed a combination ignition lock and switch which takes the part of the conventional ignition lock.

It consists of a plurality of cylinders which have to be rotated to a predetermined code before the ignition solenoid circuit is complete thus enabling the switch incorporated therewith to be engaged for starting purposes.

This eliminates the necessity for keys and only the owner or other authorized operators know the code pertaining to one particular automobile.

With the foregoing considerations in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept exhibited in the method, process, construction, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing herein particularly exemplified in the one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being bad to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the casing of my device.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

' FIG. 4 is an expanded front elevation of the interior components of the casing.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the component indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the component indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the component indicated by the line 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram showing the connection of the device to the ignition and battery circuits.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of my preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 11 is an end sectional view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary partially sectioned view showing the ratchet connection between the plunger and the drum.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the clearing mechanism.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the drums.

3,514,556 Patented May 26, 1970 "Ice FIG. 15 is a wiring diagram of the improved embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary end elevation of the switch plunger per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, I have provided a substantially box like enclosure 10 having a spring loaded hinge lid 11 on the front thereof hinged as at 12 so that when this hinged lid is lifted up, the components within the box are exposed through the cutout 13, said cutout being substantially the same dimensions as the lid 11.

There is a further small rectangular cutout 14 within the front panel 15 of the casing just to one side of the lid 11 and a lever or knob 16 extends through this cutout and is utilized to engage the starting solenoid which will hereinafter be described.

Within the casing are the components collectively designated 17 and illustrated in exploded form in FIG. 4.

There is a central fixed spindle 18 having an end plate 19 secured thereon at one end and a further end plate 20 secured thereon and at the other end. These plates which are of insulating material such as plastic or the like, are provided with electrical terminals 21, 22 and 23, 24.

Fixed upon the shaft in spaced intervals therealong is a plurality of separators 25 also made of an insulated material such as plastic. Rotatable upon shaft 18 between the end plate 19 and the separators 25 is a plurality of disc components 26 there being four in the present embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that any number can be provided.

The separators 25 are shown in end view in FIG. 7. They consist of a rectangular plate 27 apertured centrally as at 28 to engage over shaft 18 and to be fixed thereon. Upon each side of the aperture is an electrical connector 29 extending clear through and presenting faces 30 upon each side of the separator 25.

The components 26 consist of a disc 31 having shouldered discs 32 formed upon each side thereof and a partially knurled perimeter surface 33. Between adjacent sets of knurls 34 is imprinted, engraved or otherwise placed on the surface, a plurality of numbers or indicia 35.

Contacts 36 extend through the components 26 and terminate in resilient inclined legs 37 upon each side of the component so that when the assembly shown in FIG. 4 is closed up together, the resilient legs are compressed against the surface of the separators 25 and are in wipe contact therewith.

Describing the operation of this portion of the device, the battery and starting solenoid are conected to terminals 21 and 22. By rotating the four components 26 so that a predetermined number code is presented within the front aperture 13, electrical contact is formed extending between the terminals 21 and 22, through the connectors 36 and the connectors 30 to the connectors 36' situated on the extreme left of FIG. 4. By positioning the knurled ring 33, the code can be changed so that a vast variety of number combinations can be formed known only to the owner of the vehicle.

Dealing next with the switch mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5, this consists of a ring 37 surrounding an insulated cylinder 38 journalled for rotation upon shaft 18 through centrally located aperture 39. An operating lever or handle 40 extends from one side of the ring.

A cylindrical contact 41 is secured to end plate 20 and extends inwardly therefrom. This contact connects with terminal 23. The contact extends through an armately formed slot 42 in the cylinder 38 and also through the last separator 25' so that it can be connected to the end leg 36 of the component 26 when the assembly is closed together and the end component 26 has been rotated to the requisite number.

An electrical connector 43 similar to the connectors 36 extends through the cylinder 38 and has legs 44 upon each side thereof. A small spring 45 is situated within the arcuate recess 42 and normally maintains the component 37 in the position shown in FIG. 5.

However, when the lever 40 is moved in the direction of arrow 46, compressing spring 45, leg 44 moves around to connect with the face 47 of connector 48 extending through the end separator 25', thus completing the circuit between terminals 21 and 23, and terminals 22 and 24.

FIG. 8 shows the wiring diagram which includes a three position switch 48. A wire 49 extends from the battery to terminal 21 and a wire 50 extends from terminal 22 to the starter solenoid. A wire 51 extends from terminal 23 to pole 3 of the switch 48 and a wire 52 extends from terminal 24 to pole 7 of the switch. Jumper 53 extends between pole 7 and pole 3, a jumper 54 connects poles 7, 8 and 9, and a jumper 55 connects poles 1 and 4.

When the cylinders are aligned for current contact, current is permitted to flow through wire 49, through the switch to terminal 23 and thence to switch 48 at pole 3. When the switch is in one position, operation of the starting lever 16 connects pole 7 to terminal 22 thus connecting the battery to the solenoid. At the same time current flows through pole 3 of the switch to pole 2 and thence via wire 56, to the ignition so that the car may start. As soon as switch 16 is released, current continues to flow from 49, through 51 to pole 3 and thence to pole 2 and the ignition. At the same time current flows through 51 to pole 1 of the switch due to the position of the switch thus feeding the accessories through wire 57. The other position of the switch cuts out current from wire 56 to pole 2 but maintains it at pole 1 through wire 57 so that the accessories can be Operated when the engine is not running providing the dials have not been moved. When the switch 48 is in the neutral or off position, current is prevented from flowing to poles 1 and 2 thus cutting off both the ignition and the accessories.

FIGS. 9 to 16 show the preferred embodiment of my device. However, inasmuch as many of the parts are similar in construction to the embodiment hereinbefore described, similar reference characters have been given these parts with the exception that they have been primed.

The components 17' are similar in construction and operation to the components 17 and are mounted upon a similar shaft 18' within the enclosure However, instead of having serrated surfaces 26, the components 17 are provided with serrations in the form of ratchet teeth 58 around the perimeter thereof, each disc having nine such serrations equally spaced around the perimeter but leaving a gap 59 between two adjacent teeth or serrations.

A coiled spring 60 is situated within each disc or cylinder, one end of the spring being secured to the disc as at 61 and the other end 62 of the spring engaging a slot 63 upon shaft 18'. This means that as the disc is rotated in the direction of arrow 64, the spring is wound up so that when the disc is released, the spring returns the disc to the original position. It is desirable to have means incorporated within the device to establish this original position and for this I provide a fork 65 upon end of shaft 66 which in turn extends through partition 67 of the enclosure thus mounting the shaft. A shock absorbing spring 68 reacts between the end of shaft 66 and a stop 69.

Shoulders 70 are formed upon each side of the disc or cylinder 26 and these shoulders are engaged by the ends of the fork 65 when the device is in the position shown in FIG. 11. This position is considered to be the cancelled or reset position of the discs under which circumstances electrical contact is notmade between the adjacent discs and separators as hereinbefore described.

In this embodiment, means are provided to rotate the discs to the predetermined position in order that the electrical contact may be established.

This takes the form of a plurality of plungers 71 extending through the front wall 15' of the enclosure and through the aforementioned partition 67, substantially above the discs 26'. These plungers can be pushed inwardly in the direction of arrow 72 and are returned by return spring 73 secured between the plungers and the upper surface 74 of the enclosure as clearly shown.

A ratchet lever 75 is pivotally connected by pin 76 to the plunger adjacent the aperture 77 in the front wall 15' through which the plunger is extruded. The size of this aperture is such that when the plunger is in the return position shown in FIG. 11, the ratchet lever 75 engages the lower boundary of the aperture 77 which raises the plunger to the position shown in FIG. 11 against the pressure of a leaf spring 78 extending from the plunger and engaging the upper side of the ratchet lever 75. However, as the plunger is moved inwardly in the direction of arrow 72, the ratchet lever 75 clears the lower 'boundary of aperture 77 thus enabling the leaf spring 78 to move the plunger downwardly so that it engages the first ratchet tooth or serration specifically designated 58'. This rotates the disc in the direction of arrow 64 and against pressure of spring 60 situated within the disc 26'.

A further shaft 79 extends through the casing and supports a further ratchet finger 80 for each disc assembly 26. This finger curves over and down to termimate in a tooth engaging end 81 and is positioned so that when the plunger 71 is in the fully depressed position, the end 81 of the ratchet finger 80 engages over the adjacent tooth or serration 58 and holds same against the pressure of spring 60. The plunger is then returned by the spring pressure 73 to pick up the next succeeding tooth or serration 58 thus rotating the disc incrementally each time the plunger is depressed. It will therefore be seen that a code can be set on the disc so that the plunger has to be depressed a predetermined number of times in order to rotate the disc to make the necessary electrical connection between adjacent discs and separators as hereinbefore described.

In each case the ratchet finger 80 holds the disc from returning against the spring pressure 60.

When it is desired to cancel or reset the discs, a further plunger is provided specifically designated 82 and mounted in the same way as the other plungers and to one side thereof. A link 83 is pivotally connected to this plunger by pin 84 and in turn is connected to a shaft 85 also extending and being supported within the enclosure 10'. As the plunger 82 is moved in the direction of arrow 72, the shaft 85 is rotated so that fingers 86 secured to shaft 85 engage upon the underside of the ratchet fingers 80 and lift same upwardly in the direction of arrow 87 thus clearing the ends 81 from the serrations or teeth 58 thereby enabling spring 60 to snap the disc assemblies 26' back to the neutral or cancelled position shown in FIG. 11. The provision of the shock a'bsorber springs 68 is appreciated at this point.

The operation of plunger 82 also operates a main switch 88 just after the discs have been returned to the neutral or reset position.

FIG. 16 shows the switch mechanism equivalent to that shown in FIG. 5. However, instead of rotating this mechanism by means of the lever 40, I utilize a further plunger 89 similar in construction to those previously described which is connected to the specific disc 38' by means of a link 90 depending from the plunger as clearly shown. The construction and operation of this disc is similar to that shown in FIG. 5.

The wiring schematic shown in FIG. 15 includes a solenoid 91 connected to pin 92 of a double throw, double pull switch 93 situated in a convenient position. The main battery conduit 94 goes to switch 88 and then to the intake terminal 21', through the electrical connections within the disc assembly 26', to the outlet terminal 23'. It is then connected by cable or conduit 51', to the terminal 92. The starter solenoid is inserted with conduit 50', through the assembly to terminal 95 and thence to the ignition circuit of the car or truck.

Terminal 96 is connected to the accessories and terminal 97 is connected to a further toggle switch 98 via terminal 99. Terminal 100' from toggle switch 98 extends to a hood locking solenoid 101 and terminal 102 extends to a trunk locking solenoid 103.

One side of the aforementioned solenoid 91 is connected via conduit 104 to terminal 92 of toggle switch 93 and the other side. extends via conduit 105 to a door operated switch 106 which, when the door is closed, breaks the circuit to the solenoid. However, as soon as the door opens, the switch connects to ground thus completing the solenoid circuit and operating the solenoid which in turn switches off switch 88 and breaks the circuit from the battery. This is a safety feature inasmuch as this of course stops the engine.

The operation is such that when toggle switch 93 is operated to connect terminals 92 with terminals 95 and 96, both the accessory and ignition circuits are inserted, through the disc assemblies, with the battery.

When the toggle switch 93 is operated to connect terminal 92 with terminal 97, the accessories only are in circuit.

Insofar as the toggle switch 98 is concerned, when this toggle switch is centered, both the hood and truck solenoids 101 and 103 respectively are locked. However, if terminal 99 is connected with terminal 100 then the hood is unlocked and terminal 99 is connected with terminal 102 then the trunk solenoid unlocks.

However, neither of these solenoids operate unless switch 88 is closed and the plungers 71 are actuated to set the correct code.

To start the engine, the reset or cancel plunger 82 is actuated thus returning all of the cylinders to the cancelled position and at the same time actuating switch 88 which has been switched off when the door was opened.

The plungers 71 are then actuated to form the correct numerical code so that electrical contact is made between the intake end of the cylinders and the outlet end thereof. Plunger 89 is then actuated to connect the starter solenoid so that the engine starts, it being understood that the correct code on plungers 71 completes the circuit via toggle switch 93 to the ignition as well as permitting the starter solenoid circuit to be actuated.

To stop the engine, it is merely necessary to open the door which enables solenoid 91 to actuate switch 88 thus breaking the circuit to the ignition.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that what is described herein should be regarded as illustrative of such concept and not for the purpose of limiting protection to any particular embodiment thereof, but that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection to which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

What is claimed to be the present invention is:

1. In a plunger-operated electrical combination switch, a housing, a shaft in said housing, a set of peripherally toothed contact discs independently rotatable on said shaft and adapted to close an electrical circuit when each of the discs has been rotated to a predetermined angular position from a common initial position of all the discs, stop means for all the discs in their common initial position, resilient means biasing each disc to its initial position against said stop means, said stop means being resiliently yieldable to absorb impacts of the discs under the action of said resilient biasing means, a set of reciprocable plungers in said housing, a set of pawls provided on the respective plungers and engageable with the respective peripherally toothed discs for incrementally rotating the same to their predetermined angular positions against the action of said resilient biasing means, a second shaft parallel to the first mentioned shaft and rotatable in said housing, a set of ratchet fingers secured to said second shaft and engageable with the respective peripherally toothed discs to prevent rotation thereof to their initial position by said resilient biasing means, a finger-actuated cancelling button reciprocable in said housing, and means operatively connecting said button to said second shaft for rotating the same sufiiciently to disengage said ratchet fingers from said discs, whereby to permit all the discs to return to their initial position by said resilient biasing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,064 6/1914 Dana 200-43 X 1,593,541 7/1926 Rundin 200-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,921 6/1954 Australia.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner H. I. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner 

